Detailed heat transfer coefficient and film effectiveness distributions over a gas turbine blade with film cooling are obtained using a transient liquid crystal image technique. The test blade has three rows of film holes on the leading edge and two rows each on the pressure and suction surfaces. A transient liquid crystal technique maps the entire blade midspan region, and helps provide detailed measurements, particularly near the film hole. Tests were performed on a five-blade linear cascade in a low-speed wind tunnel. The mainstream Reynolds number based on cascade exit velocity is 5.3×105. Two different coolants (air and Co2) were used to simulate coolant density effect. Coolant blowing ratio was varied between 0.8 and 1.2 for air injection and 0.4–1.2
for Co2 injection. Results show that film injection promotes earlier laminar-turbulent boundary layer transition on the suction surface and also enhances local heat transfer coefficients (up to 80%) downstream of injection. An increase in coolant blowing ratio produces higher heat transfer coefficients for both coolants. This effect is stronger immediately downstream of injection holes. Film effectiveness is highest
at a blowing ratio of 0.8 for air injection and at a blowing
ratio of 1.2 for Co2 injection. Such detailed results will help provide insight into the film cooling phenomena on a gas turbine blade.
